Thursday, March 6, 2025

News People Avoid: Cognitive Dissonance: Psychological Theory People Might Be Facing Today

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                   


Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort a person experiences when their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors contradict each other, causing them to feel uneasy and motivating them to change their thoughts or actions to achieve consistencyessentially, it's the psychological tension that arises when you hold two conflicting ideas at the same time, leading to an urge to resolve this inconsistency. 

Cognitive Dissonance Part I by my son, Steve Henwood, is explaining a psychological position many of us find ourselves in lately.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alqgNtJrCZo

Cognitive Dissonance Part II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Wap0uMHMM

Cognitive Dissonance Part III

https://youtu.be/OpKSSuQ_sa0 (updated)

Steve has discovered in me and others that we are going through a mental anguish with news today.  I have faced mine by doing as much research as I can to answer my own questions and have been sharing them with other readers.  I wasn't aware that this feeling has a psychological name.  

Steve has been into making videos for the hospital, St. Vincents, teaching videos.  He's used his video knowledge in making these two videos to explain the condition.  I have a feeling that he had some guidance from my brother David, the Psychologist, when he was well.  Not sure.  

I notice in my assisted living that people don't listen to news on TV or the radio.  It makes them upset.  It's also a subject if broached at lunch at our tables for 4, that we might be sitting with people of opposite opinion about our today's news.  I just had such an experience.  Now, instead of shuddering, I could explain that this feeling is rather normal, it's happening to others, and we can learn to deal with it without killing or hating or avoiding each other.  😁😋😕

My continued suggestion always is read, read and educate yourselves and become an authority on the subject.  Think, put yourself in each position.  Treat this like a debate in high school;  take on both sides and see what you find.  Don't be close-minded.  Gee, Steve, I'm sure glad you took a debate class at Ontario High School !  Having an excellent debator (receiving 2nd in Salem with Mark Wada, partner)does make it hard for me to be a tough mom, though and probably a tough brother.  

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